Latest news with #Portia
Metro
5 days ago
- Metro
'I knew something was wrong when I walked into my daughter's flat'
When Janina Vincent took one look at her daughter Portia's London home, she knew instantly she had not been there for some time. The air in her North Finchley flat seemed stale, food was rotting in the fridge, and a dead flower sat wilting in the corner of the room. 'Portia loves life, she would never leave a dried up brown flower in the corner of the room,' Janina explains in an exclusive interview with Metro.'I knew straight away, she had not been home. Her bed was also unmade, which was very unusual for her.' Since that moment, the mum says the family has been 'bleeding quietly and inwardly'. As far as Janina knows, Portia was last seen on February 21, as she walked with a friend to Victoria Station. The last time anyone heard from her was a few days later on February 25. At the time, Janina was away on a six week holiday overseas. She was enjoying her last week, when a worried friend got in touch to say they were concerned about Portia, 33, after she stopped replying to texts. 'As soon as I landed back, I made it my mission to trace her,' she says. Janina contacted Portia's landlord who had also not heard from her, so she then called the police. Together, on March 13, they went to the flat. As Janina took a look around, the gravity of the situation became clearer and her daughter was reported as oficially missing. Over the years, Portia worked a number of jobs – and even ran as a green party candidate. 'But her true passion was studying,' Janina explains. 'She would do that for the rest of her life if she could.' Portia is slim with blue eyes and shoulder-length dyed blonde hair. Her clothing when she went missing is unknown, however she often wears a baseball cap. She is also known to have links with the Kent area. Portia was last seen on Friday, 21 February at around 20:45hrs in Hyde Park. After leaving her friends, she is believed to have gone to Victoria Station. Police would urge anyone with information on her whereabouts to call police on 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, quoting 01/7262039/25. Having written for a number of publications, including for British American Business and Lawyer Monthy, Portia even self published a book called Arridaeus, written in a Shakespearean style. 'She is just so bright and reading all of the time. She has a Masters degree in philosophy – she thinks differently from us all. She's always been quirky,which is what her friends love about her.' Janina, who is based in Faversham, Kent, last spent time with her daughter just before Christmas, where the pair walked around London for hours and getting a late lunch. 'We did have a nice time, but over the last year, we have been slightly more estranged after Portia was diagnosed with PTSD. But prior to his we had a great relationship,' she explains. Not knowing where her daughter has gone, quickly took it's toll on Janina. A few weeks after Portia had been reported missing, she explains how she had to go away for a couple of nights as she was 'dangerously close to imploding'. 'I was thinking, ''How can this all be? How can my child just vanish?' At one point I was dangerously on edge, and had to get away so I didn't become a mess.' In April, the family received a tiny breakhrough, when they discovered that Portia had run into a family friend in the Blind Beggar pub in Whitechapel a month earlier, on March 14. 'He didn't know she was missing at the time, and he hadn't seen her for around 10 years. But he said she was sat there on her own, with no drinks or anything,' explains Janina. 'He bought her two, they chatted for at least an hour, and then they parted ways.' Armed with news of the sighting, she quickly contacted the police who managed to access to the pub's CCTV, which showed her daughter looking 'very unwell and distressed'. 'Janina adds: 'After that, the trail goes cold as CCTV cameras outside were either broken or the footage had been wiped.' The police have recently released this footage to the public. 'We are growing increasingly concerned for Portia's safety, as this behaviour is out of character for her. We urge anyone who may have seen her to contact police,' PC Harjinder Kang, from the Met's north west missing persons unit tells Metro. 'Officers have been carrying out a number of enquiries in an effort to trace her and we are now turning to the public for help. Please get in touch if you can help us locate Portia.' Today, Janina tells Metro that although she and her son Max, are naturally quite stoic people, they have 'been left with no choice but to carry on'. More Trending It's the not knowing has been the hardest on the family, she adds. 'Her granddad, my dad, still messages Portia all the time, asking where she is. My other half cries whenever he talks about it. 'I just don't understand how anyone can just disappear off the face of the earth.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Double decker bus roof ripped off after crashing into railway bridge in South Norwood MORE: London food trucks serving 'restaurant-quality' grub on the go including one in an old fire engine MORE: Missing British man Jordan Johnson-Doyle found dead at bottom of a lift shaft in Malaysia
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Chilling CCTV released in frantic search for woman, 33, who vanished from trip to Hyde Park with pals 3 months ago
Her bank cards haven't been used in three weeks FIND HER Chilling CCTV released in frantic search for woman, 33, who vanished from trip to Hyde Park with pals 3 months ago POLICE have issued CCTV footage in the hopes of finding a woman who went missing three months ago. Portia Vincent-Kirby, 33, disappeared on February 21 at around 8.45pm after seeing friends in Hyde Park, London. 4 Portia Vincent-Kirby, 33, was last seen in Hyde Park on February 21 Credit: Linkedin 4 CCTV footage showed Portia at the Blind Beggar pub on March 13 Credit: Metropolitan Police 4 Police have issued an appeal for any information relating to her Credit: Democracy Club Portia was reported missing on March 13, prompting police to begin trawling CCTV footage in a bid to trace her The last confirmed sighting of her was at the Blind Beggar pub in Whitechapel on Friday March 14. Portia, who is single and lives alone in a flat in North Finchley, is described as slim with blue eyes and shoulder-length dyed blonde hair, but often wears a baseball cap. The sociable, outgoing young woman ran as the Green Party candidate for Hendon, North London, in 2019 - with her brother saying "she's not the kind of person who just vanishes". Read more News AIR SCARE Passengers injured on Ryanair flight after being thrown against cabin roof Her family are urging her to contact them, after it was revealed by police her phone and bank cards have not been used in weeks. Her mum, Janina said: 'We are all very worried as Portia is very vulnerable. 'Portia has not been in contact with or seen by any family or friends since February. 'We appeal to the public for anyone to please come forward if they know anything about her or her whereabouts. 'We also appeal to Portia directly, please get in touch with any of your family or friends.' PC Harjinder Kang, from the Met's north west missing persons unit, added: 'We are growing increasingly concerned for Portia's safety, as this behaviour is out of character for her. Portuguese police launch new search for Madeleine McCann in the Algarve 'We urge anyone who may have seen her to contact police. 'Officers have been carrying out a number of enquiries in an effort to trace her and we are now turning to the public for help. 'Please get in touch if you can help us locate Portia.' Speaking previously, her brother Max, 31, said: 'She's got a master's degree, she's an intelligent girl, she's not the kind of person who just vanishes. 'It's like she's dropped off the face of the earth. He added: 'She is very much her own person, but she has lots of friends. 'We reported her missing on March 13 after we realised none of her friends had seen her in weeks. 'The police were then able to look at her bank cards and phone, they can check when it was last used unlike using the ticks on Whatsapp to see if messages were delivered. 'They found out that they hadn't been used for nearly three weeks, since the start of March. 'Who doesn't need money for nearly three weeks? Even if you'd met someone you'd go out and get coffee or something, it just doesn't make sense.' 4 Her family said her behaviour is out of character Credit: Metropolitan Police Portia also has strong links to Medway, where she is from. Police would urge anyone with information on her whereabouts to call police on 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, quoting 01/7262039/25.
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Chilling CCTV released in frantic search for woman, 33, who vanished from trip to Hyde Park with pals 3 months ago
POLICE have issued CCTV footage in the hopes of finding a woman who went missing three months ago. 4 Portia Vincent-Kirby, 33, was last seen in Hyde Park on February 21 Credit: Linkedin 4 CCTV footage showed Portia at the Blind Beggar pub on March 13 Credit: Metropolitan Police 4 Police have issued an appeal for any information relating to her Credit: Democracy Club Portia was reported missing on March 13, prompting police to begin trawling CCTV footage in a bid to trace her The last confirmed sighting of her was at the Blind Beggar pub in Whitechapel on Friday March 14. Portia, who is single and lives alone in a flat in North Finchley, is described as slim with blue eyes and shoulder-length dyed blonde hair, but often wears a baseball cap. The sociable, outgoing young woman ran as the Green Party candidate for Hendon, North London, in 2019 - with her brother saying "she's not the kind of person who just Read more News Her family are urging her to contact them, after it was revealed by police her phone and bank cards have not been used in weeks. Her mum, Janina said: 'We are all 'Portia has not been in contact with or seen by any family or friends since February. 'We appeal to the public for anyone to please come forward if they know anything about her or her whereabouts. Most read in The Sun 'We also appeal to Portia directly, please get in touch with any of your family or friends.' PC Harjinder Kang, from the Met's north west missing persons unit, Portuguese police launch new search for Madeleine McCann in the Algarve 'We urge anyone who may have seen her to contact police. 'Officers have been carrying out a number of enquiries in an effort to trace her and we are now turning to the public for help. 'Please get in touch if you can help us locate Portia.' Speaking previously, her brother Max, 31, said: 'She's got a master's degree, she's an intelligent girl, she's not the kind of person who just vanishes. 'It's like she's dropped off the face of the earth. He added: 'She is very much her own person, but she has lots of friends. 'We 'The police were then able to look at her bank cards and phone, they can check when it was last used unlike using the ticks on Whatsapp to see if messages were delivered. 'They found out that they hadn't been used for nearly three weeks, since the start of March. 'Who doesn't need money for nearly three weeks? Even if you'd met someone you'd go out and get coffee or something, it just doesn't make sense.' 4 Her family said her behaviour is out of character Credit: Metropolitan Police Portia also has strong links to Medway, where she is from. Police would urge anyone with information on her whereabouts to call police on 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, quoting 01/7262039/25.
Metro
5 days ago
- Metro
Missing woman last seen near Hyde Park three months ago spotted in London pub
A woman who was reported missing in March has mysteriously reappeared in a London pub three months after she was last seen. Portia Vincent-Kirby, from Finchley, vanished en route to Victoria Station after an evening with friends in Hyde Park on February 21. She was then spotted out of the blue in the Blind Beggar pub in Whitechapel on May 14, but has not been seen since. Her bank cards and passport have not been used since March 3, and her phone has also not pinged since this then. Pictures from the pub show Portia smiling and wearing a faux fur cossack hat. She is described as slim with blue eyes and shoulder-length dyed blonde hair. The 33-year-old is also known to often wear baseball caps. Portia's devastated family are appealing for more information about where she might be. Metro spoke to her brother, Max, in March after her family reported her missing. He criticised the police over their approach to her being missing and urged them to be more proactive with her case. He told Metro: 'It took two weeks after she was reported missing just for them to release a picture of her. 'We have heard very little from them, it's been left to us to find her. All we have been told is her bank cards haven't been used – which isn't good.' More Trending In an updated statement from police last night, her mum, Janina, said: 'We are all very worried as Portia is very vulnerable. Portia has not been in contact with or seen by any family or friends since February. 'We appeal to the public for anyone to please come forward if they know anything about her or her whereabouts. We also appeal to Portia directly, please get in touch with any of your family or friends.' PC Harjinder Kang, from the Met's north west missing persons unit, added: 'We are growing increasingly concerned for Portia's safety, as this behaviour is out of character for her. We urge anyone who may have seen her to contact police. 'Officers have been carrying out a number of enquiries in an effort to trace her and we are now turning to the public for help. Please get in touch if you can help us locate Portia.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Body found in search for British man Greg Monks who went missing on stag do in Portugal MORE: Map shows 26-mile stretch where Madeleine McCann search will continue today MORE: Three missing sisters found dead after going to visit dad as manhunt for him is underway
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
$85,000 Investment Mistake? Suze Orman Says This Listener Should Exit Her Annuity ASAP
When listener Portia asked a question on the "Women & Money" podcast about her variable annuity, Suze Orman didn't hold back. Based on the high fees Portia was paying and the surrender schedule she faced, Orman advised her to cut her losses — and fast. If you've ever wondered whether an annuity is right for your retirement funds, especially when it involves rolling over a 401(k), this is a story worth paying attention to. Portia explained that she transferred $85,000 from her previous employer's 401(k) into a variable annuity at Fidelity in 2022. She's currently paying around $380 per quarter in fees — more than $1,500 per year — and the annuity has a nine-year surrender period. If she waits it out, she avoids the surrender charge but continues paying hefty fees. If she exits now, she'll face a penalty of roughly 7%. Don't Miss: Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart & Target – Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — Orman did the math. If Portia sticks with the annuity until the ninth year, she'll end up paying approximately $9,120 in fees. In contrast, her surrender charge today would be around $6,300 to $6,900. 'Absolutely surrender it," Orman said. "It makes no sense for you to be in it." Orman has long warned against putting retirement savings into variable annuities, especially when they come from qualified accounts like a 401(k). In Portia's case, the high annual fees alone are reason enough to reconsider. According to Investopedia, variable annuities often charge 2% to 3% annually just for management and administrative costs. Add in surrender charges, possible sales commissions, and insurance fees, and you're looking at a serious drain on your retirement savings over time. Even though annuities offer the benefit of guaranteed income, that security comes at a price. "It makes no sense for you to be in it," Orman said. "You might even want to look at converting it little by little to a Roth IRA and really save money in the long run." Trending: Maximize saving for your retirement and cut down on taxes: . Rolling a 401(k) into an annuity can sound appealing — it promises stability and income in retirement. But the move can backfire if you're not fully informed. Here's why: No added tax benefit: A 401(k) is already tax-deferred, so moving it into an annuity doesn't give you extra tax savings. Limited flexibility: Annuities often lock you into fixed payment schedules, which can be a problem if your expenses vary month to month. Hefty fees: Fees can quietly eat away at your balance, reducing your future payouts. Inheritance issues: If you die prematurely, the remaining annuity funds may go to the insurance company — not your suggested that Portia surrender the annuity and reinvest the money in her IRA in a way that makes more financial sense. She also floated the idea of gradually converting the funds to a Roth IRA to reduce future tax burdens. If you're in a similar situation, consider seeking advice from a financial planner before making changes. Understanding your investment's fee structure, potential penalties, and tax implications is key to making the right decision. Read Next:'Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. Image: Shutterstock UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? APPLE (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report This article $85,000 Investment Mistake? Suze Orman Says This Listener Should Exit Her Annuity ASAP originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
